Healthy Eating Keeps Your Brain Sharp

What you put in your stomach now affects your brain later – including your ability to think, remember and process information

In a 25-year study of nearly 3,400 people ages 18 to 30, researchers found that those with slightly elevated blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels tended to have lower cognitive, thinking and reasoning abilities in their 40s and 50s.

“It’s amazing that as a young adult, mildly elevated cardiovascular risks seem to matter for your brain health later in life,” said Dr. Kristine Yaffe, a neuropsychiatrist, epidemiologist and professor at the University of California-San Francisco.

It’s never too late to start your journey towards better brain health. Research has shown that the healthiest eaters at age 50 had a nearly 90 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who had the least healthy diets.